Monday March 31st Historic Nauvoo

Monday March 31st was Benjamin's Birthday.  He had a hard time understanding why he didn't get the lego set he wanted.  I didn't think a lego set would have survived the trip, so I tried to explain that he would get it when we got home.  We started the day off with a carriage ride.  It was one of the more spiritual parts of the trip for me.  The driver of the carriage had some really inspirational experiences.  He took us out into the woods of Nauvoo, and it was very peaceful.  One story he told was about Lucy Mack Smith.  She lost Alvin, Joseph, Hyrum, and Samuel (he past away shortly after Joseph and Hyrum were killed).  He talked about how even through all of her loss.  Her loss of her children, the loss of her home and property.  Through it all she never waivered in her testimony that her son was a prophet of God.  She knew that Joseph Smith was called to bring forth the gospel of Christ on the earth today. 

 Here are the three musketeer's.  Bryston, Jence, and Brigham.  These guys are always getting into trouble.  The rest of the day we spent touring the little town the church has restored.  Most of the buildings where not still standing.  Some of the brick one's though survived.  The church restored them and you can go and visit the little houses.  The tours were given by senior missionaries.  Some of the ones we visited were the Shoe makers shop, the school, the brick yard, the black smith, Lucy Mack Smith's home, Brigham Young's home, the tin shop, gun shop, and the bakery. 

Here is Kate standing in front of Lucy Mack Smith's bed.

Ben is showing the Nauvoo brick he got from the brickyard (that's where they teach you how they made bricks back then).  Also the cookie he got from the bakery. 

Here Kirk is standing in front of Lucy Mack Smith's kitchen.

Here we are eating lunch.  Saryta Brodie's fiance and Amarah joined us for the day.

Here are all the kids posing on the trail of Hope.  This is the trail the pioneers took as the fled Nauvoo.  Facing an uncertain future in the middle of winter with very little to sustain them, they left with complete faith that God would pave a way for them.  It was February and the Mississippi river was frozen over.  They took this opportunity to get out as the mobs were forcing them to leave their homes and property.  I'm sure that the pioneers looked back over their shoulder's and looked at their beloved temple one last time.  They had worked so hard to complete it with such great sacrifice.

Here is Kirk and Ben, and Jence standing in front of the Joseph Smith and Brigham Young statue at the end of the trail right in front of the Mississippi river.

Kate and Sarah on the carriage ride

Ben got from grandma a special birthday chocolate egg with his name on it